In a spin: Unhappy Harry defends his reluctance to rotate Spurs squad

Tottenham defender Verdan Corluka claims Redknapp's decision not make changes has left the squad tired

Bah humbug: Harry made fewer changes than any other Premier League boss over the festive season

Harry Redknapp today launched a robust defence of his management style and hit out at claims his failure to rotate has led to exhaustion within Tottenham's faltering squad.

Tottenham were on the verge of moving 13 points clear of Arsenal in February but a run of one win in nine games means the Londoners could be sixth in the Barclays Premier League by the time they take on Blackburn at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka claimed this week Redknapp's reluctance to rotate - he made the fewest changes of any top-flight manager over the festive period - has caused the club's key players to tire.

Redknapp has clearly been riled by the claims of the right-back, who was loaned to Bayer Leverkusen in January, and insists he has no regrets over his reluctance to rotate this term.

"I am very happy with what I have done," Redknapp said in a fiery press conference this afternoon.

"The players have probably played on average 30 games this year and I don't think is a lot.

"It's my decision. It's difficult to rotate a team. It's okay to rotate if you have enough players to do it but I have not been in that position due to injuries.

"Frank Lampard played 60 games in a season. I don't see him talking about being rotated.

"Ashley Cole has been playing 47, 48 games a year. Wayne Rooney has played well in to the 40s.

"They are not being rotated.

"If people keep telling players they're tired, they'll believe it.

"It's a load of nonsense. It's an excuse."

Redknapp has also been irritated by claims he had a bust-up with striker Emmanuel Adebayor this week.

"Whoever said that is telling lies. It is an absolute lie," he said.

"I have not had one cross word with Adebayor since he came here. He has never been a minute's problem to me. "When we took him here from Man City people said he's aggro or whatever.. but he is not a problem.

"The whole thing is fabricated. I am sure we would love to keep him here next year. He is a top player."

Having watched his team slip three points behind Newcastle after losing to QPR last weekend, Redknapp knows Spurs must win their last four games - against Blackburn, Bolton, Aston Villa and Fulham - to stand any chance of catching the in-form Magpies.

Even that may not be enough to qualify for the Champions League, however, as Chelsea will take the fourth qualification spot if they beat Bayern Munich in next month's European Cup final.

Redknapp insists his team's slump has been due to a mixture of bad luck on and off the pitch and is adamant he can bring Champions League football back to White Hart Lane next season.

"We lost people like Michael Dawson and at the start of the season Tom Huddlestone," Redknapp added.

"They're people who are important to the squad.

"We have had a disastrous run, it's like someone has hit you with a sledgehammer, but we've only played bad once really in the league - against Norwich.

"We're positive and it's all systems go from now on.

"We are looking forward to the last four games, we are in a great situation where we can still make Champions League and we are ready to go for it."

Tottenham's hopes of returning to winning ways against relegation threatened Blackburn have been boosted by the return of Adebayor and Younes Kaboul from their respective hamstring and knee injuries.

Redknapp did confirm, however, that left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his shoulder against QPR last week.